Mindset, Prototyping, and Circular Principles for the Development of Physical Product Ideas
Step, literally, into the realm of physical product development with this rare workshop, set in the innovative and dynamic environment of Toolspace – a fully-equipped prototyping facility with the machines, materials, education, support, and network necessary to transform your hardware-enabled ideas into reality.
The global challenges the planet is facing – especially the environmental ones – require both digital and physical solutions, and while the digital/IT sector is flourishing in Sweden, the hardware domain still faces hurdles due to limited access to essential resources. This workshop aims to bridge that gap by providing the tools, materials, and expertise that you will need to understand how you can start prototyping, validating, and realising your ideas.
You will learn the fundamentals of starting a hardware project and engage in a learning process that is hands-on and interactive. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds, fostering a rich environment for mutual learning and skill-sharing, empowering you to apply your newfound knowledge to your projects immediately. With each session being facilitated by a leading expert, together we will focus on three main aspects:
- The mindset for hardware entrepreneurship
- The importance of prototyping for tech and market validation
- The circular principles for hardware startups
We do so by exploring both strategies and concrete tools, merging theoretical knowledge with practical application and providing a learning experience that emphasises real-world experimentation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- How to work with physical product development
- How to use rapid prototyping and rapid market feedback as a way to validate ideas early on
- How to create meaningful and circular products with less impact on the planet
- How to generate revenues out of hardware-enabled companies, which business models are applicable, etc.
- How to navigate the hardware ecosystem
ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION
All students and alumni of SSES member universities are eligible to apply to this weekend workshop. We get many applications and unfortunately cannot accept everyone. The selection process is outlined below.
For this specific workshop, you as an attendee will be requested to present yourself and what motivates you to learn about frugal innovation by uploading a short personal video. We also ask that you share in what area you would like to identify opportunities for frugal innovation and why.
SELECTION PROCESS
- Application is reviewed
- Selection is made and a confirmation email is sent out
- Participants must confirm their seat in order to secure the spot
- If spots are not confirmed in time, the waitlist will be reviewed and new participants selected
About the teacher
Jean-Baptiste Gérard has a background in economics and environmental science. He initially worked with various environmental NGOs in Europe, concentrating on challenges related to water. He discovered that addressing most environmental issues requires improved hardware solutions, which led him to co-found Toolspace in 2018. A dedicated hub for product design and innovation, Toolspace offers access to prototyping labs, support sessions, and accelerator programs. Over the past five years, they have assisted over 300 teams in validating their ideas, leading to the successful launch of more than 50 companies.
With expertise in several key areas — such as prototyping, design, UX, business models, intellectual property, pitching, launching, strategy, and securing funding — Jean-Baptiste thrives on supporting individuals in creating impactful products for the planet and society.
